Well-logging apparatus with ring-shaped resistors and related methods

Abstract

A well-logging apparatus may include a charged particle source, a target electrode, and an accelerator column. The accelerator column may include a housing extending between the charged particle source and the target electrode, a series of spaced apart accelerator electrodes carried by the housing, a series of ring-shaped resistors surrounding the housing, and a respective connector coupling adjacent ones of the series of ring-shaped resistors together and to a corresponding one of the series of spaced apart accelerator electrodes.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A well-logging apparatus comprising:
 a charged particle source; 
 a target electrode; and 
 an accelerator column comprising 
 a housing extending between said charged particle source and said target electrode, 
 a series of spaced apart accelerator electrodes carried by said housing, 
 a series of ring-shaped resistors surrounding said housing, and 
 a respective connector coupling adjacent ones of said series of ring-shaped resistors together and to a corresponding one of said series of spaced apart accelerator electrodes; 
 wherein each connector comprises:
 an electrically conductive ring coupling the adjacent ones of said series of ring-shaped resistors and defining a resistor tap point; and 
 at least one electrically conductive link coupling the corresponding one of said accelerator electrodes to a corresponding tap point; and 
 
 wherein the adjacent ones of said series of ring-shaped resistors have recessed edges defining a channel to receive a corresponding one of said electrically conductive rings. 
 
     
     
       2. The well-logging apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped resistors have generally cylindrical or tube shapes surrounding said housing. 
     
     
       3. The well-logging apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each ring-shaped resistor comprises a dielectric substrate and a resistive trace thereon. 
     
     
       4. The well-logging apparatus according to  claim 3  said dielectric substrate comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
       5. The well-logging apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said resistive trace comprises an electrically resistive trace arranged in a spiral around said dielectric substrate. 
     
     
       6. The well-logging apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one electrically conductive link comprises at least one electrically conductive spring. 
     
     
       7. The well-logging apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each connector comprises a corona ring surrounding said electrically conductive ring. 
     
     
       8. The well-logging apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said accelerator column comprises a plurality of spaced apart dielectric spacers between said housing and the adjacent ones of said series of ring-shaped resistors. 
     
     
       9. A method for making an accelerator column for charged particles comprising:
 coupling a series of spaced apart accelerator electrodes along a housing; 
 coupling a series of ring-shaped resistors to surround the housing, wherein each respective ring-shaped resistor is radially contiguous around an axial position along the accelerator column; and 
 coupling a respective connector between adjacent ones of the series of ring-shaped resistors and to a corresponding one of the series of spaced apart accelerator electrodes, 
 wherein coupling the respective connector comprises:
 positioning an electrically conductive ring to couple the adjacent ones of the series of ring-shaped resistors and defining a resistor tap point; and 
 using at least one electrically conductive link to couple the one of the accelerator electrodes to a corresponding tap point, and 
 
 wherein adjacent ones of the series of ring-shaped resistors have recessed edges defining a channel to receive a corresponding one of the electrically conductive rings. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9  wherein each ring-shaped resistor comprises a dielectric substrate and a resistive trace thereon. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10  the dielectric substrate comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 9  comprising coupling a corona ring to surround the electrically conductive ring.